The strap size depends on the reference. Yours is engraved on the case back or between the lugs at 6 o'clock.
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18 or 20 mm
Verification: From our database, not yet verified
34 to 39 mm cases · 1958 to 2023
Indicative information. Check your watch before buying a strap: whatsmylugwidth.com is not responsible for an incorrect size.
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The story · Since 1926
Every Rolex with a crown on the dial descends from two inventions in this line: a sealed case first tested in the English Channel in 1927 and a winding rotor patented in 1931. In 2022 a plain, time-only Oyster Perpetual 41 with a turquoise dial sold at Phillips for HK$302,400, against an estimate of HK$40,000 to 60,000.
1931
year Rolex patented the Perpetual winding rotor
Worn by
Rolex unveiled the Oyster case in 1926, an airtight shell meant to keep water, dust and moisture away from the movement. In 1927 Hans Wilsdorf gave one to swimmer Mercedes Gleitze for her English Channel attempt. In 1931 Rolex patented the Perpetual rotor, which winds the movement from the motion of the wrist, and the Oyster Perpetual concept was born.
The first Oyster Perpetuals carried a domed caseback to make room for the winding rotor, which earned them the nickname Bubbleback. Phillips describes them as the first Rolex wristwatches to combine waterproofing, self-winding and chronometer precision. The design stayed in production until the mid 1950s.
In 1952 Rolex patented reversing wheels so the rotor winds the mainspring in both directions. Oyster Perpetual watches were part of the equipment of the 1953 British Everest expedition. In 1966 and 1967 Francis Chichester sailed solo around the world carrying an Oyster Perpetual chronometer.
In the 1960s the 34mm reference 1002 offered the Oyster Perpetual formula in its simplest form, sometimes as a gold presentation watch on a leather strap. In 1985 Rolex became the first watch brand to machine some cases from solid blocks of 904L steel, the alloy that later defined the range.
Rolex listed Oyster Perpetual as a range of its own in the catalogue in 2014. In 2015 the 39mm reference 114300 became the largest model of the line.
In 2020 the 41mm reference 124300 replaced the 39mm model and brought the calibre 3230. Lacquered dials in candy pink, turquoise, yellow, coral red and green arrived and quickly built long waiting lists. In 2023 Rolex added Celebration dials covered in coloured bubbles.
For the Oyster case centenary Rolex released a yellow Rolesor edition in 31, 36 and 41 mm. The winding crown carries the number 100 and the words 100 years replace Swiss Made at 6 o'clock.
Carried an Oyster Perpetual chronometer on his solo round-the-world voyage; he said it was knocked off his wrist several times without damage.
2024. A 2021 turquoise OP 41 opened Phillips' New York Watch Auction XI as lot 1 and sold for $24,130.
2022. Months after Rolex discontinued the turquoise OP 41, Phillips sold one in Hong Kong for HK$302,400 on an estimate of HK$40,000 to 60,000.
1953. Oyster Perpetual watches went up with the British Everest expedition; leader John Hunt reported that they performed splendidly.
1927. Mercedes Gleitze wore a Rolex Oyster for more than 10 hours in the English Channel and later called it absolutely waterproof.
1930s. The nickname comes from the domed caseback needed to fit the thickness of the first winding rotor.
An early Oyster Perpetual Bubbleback in a 32mm steel case with the 9 3/4''' automatic calibre.
32mm case diameter.
A 32mm steel Oyster Perpetual Chronometer from the series that ran for over 22 years and became a collector target in the 1980s, largely through Japanese buyers.
32mm case diameter.
A 34mm Oyster Perpetual with the automatic calibre 1570, here in 14K gold made for the American market and engraved as a 25-year service gift from a Coca Cola bottler.
34mm case; the Phillips example was sold on a leather strap with a gold Rolex pin buckle.
A 41mm no-date Oystersteel model with the calibre 3230, about 70 hours of reserve and the Superlative Chronometer rating of -2/+2 seconds a day. Launch price was CHF 5,600.
Case grew from 39mm to 41mm. Three-link Oyster bracelet with folding Oysterclasp and 5mm Easylink extension.
The 36mm model took the same new lacquered colour dials, which Phillips links to the vintage Stella dials.
36mm case.
The 39mm Oyster Perpetual was the largest case in the line until 2020.
Case grew to 39mm, then was discontinued when the 41mm arrived.
Rolex Oyster Perpetual references in our database. Each card says where its width comes from: listed by the maker (linked to the maker's page in the details), two independent sources agree, or listed in our database and not yet verified by us.
Oyster Perpetual 34
Lug width: 20 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 34 mmYear: 1958Silver dialCase material: Steel
Oyster Perpetual 34
Lug width: 19 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 34 mmYear: 1959Silver dialCase material: Steel
Oyster Perpetual 36 ref.
Lug width: 20 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 36 mmYear: 2005Blue dialCase material: White Gold
Oyster Perpetual 26
Lug width: 13 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 26 mmYear: 2007Silver dialCase material: Steel
Oyster Perpetual 31
Lug width: 16 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 31 mmYear: 2007Blue dialCase material: Steel
Oyster Perpetual 34
Lug width: 19 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 34 mmYear: 2007Blue dialCase material: Steel
Oyster Perpetual 36
Lug width: 20 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 36 mmYear: 2008Black dialCase material: Steel
Oyster Perpetual 39
Lug width: 20 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 39 mmYear: 2015Blue dialCase material: Steel
Oyster Perpetual 28 Silver
Lug width: 14 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 28 mmYear: 2020Silver dialCase material: Steel
Oyster Perpetual 31
Lug width: 16 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 31 mmYear: 2020Turquoise Blue dialCase material: Steel
Oyster Perpetual 31 Blue
Lug width: 16 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 31 mmYear: 2020Blue dialCase material: Steel
Oyster Perpetual 31 Coral
Lug width: 16 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 31 mmYear: 2020Coral dialCase material: Steel
Oyster Perpetual 31 Green
Lug width: 16 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 31 mmYear: 2020Green dialCase material: Steel
Oyster Perpetual 31 Pink
Lug width: 16 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 31 mmYear: 2020Pink dialCase material: Steel
Oyster Perpetual 31 Turquoise
Lug width: 16 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 31 mmYear: 2020Turquoise dialCase material: Steel
Oyster Perpetual 34
Lug width: 18 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 34 mmYear: 2020Pink dialCase material: Steel
Lug width: 19 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 34 mmYear: 2020Blue dialCase material: Steel
Lug width: 19 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 34 mmYear: 2020Coral dialCase material: Steel
Oyster Perpetual 36
Lug width: 20 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 36 mmYear: 2020Turquoise Blue dialCase material: Steel
Lug width: 20 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 36 mmYear: 2020Blue dialCase material: Steel
Lug width: 20 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 36 mmYear: 2020Red dialCase material: Steel
Lug width: 20 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 36 mmYear: 2020Green dialCase material: Steel
Oyster Perpetual 41
Lug width: 21 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 41 mmYear: 2020Green dialCase material: Steel
Lug width: 20 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 36 mmYear: 2023Bubbles dialCase material: Steel
Lug width: 21 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 41 mmYear: 2023Colored Bubbles dialCase material: Steel
Oyster Perpetual Oyster
Lug width: 19 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 34 mmPurple / Bordeaux dial
Oyster Perpetual Oyster
Lug width: 19 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 34 mmGreen dial
Oyster Perpetual Oyster
Lug width: 19 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 34 mmYellow dial
Oyster Perpetual Oyster
Lug width: 19 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 34 mmBlack dial
Oyster Perpetual Oyster
Lug width: 19 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 34 mmWhite dial
Oyster Perpetual Oyster
Lug width: 18 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 34 mmGrey dial
Oyster Perpetual Oyster
Lug width: 18 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 34 mmBlack dial
Oyster Perpetual Oyster
Lug width: 18 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 34 mmBlue / Navy dial
Oyster Perpetual Oyster
Lug width: 18 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 34 mmPink / Salmon dial
Oyster Perpetual Oyster
Lug width: 18 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 34 mmGreen dial
Oyster Perpetual Oyster
Lug width: 18 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 34 mmGrey dial
Oyster Perpetual Oyster
Lug width: 18 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 34 mmBlue / Navy dial
Oyster Perpetual 28 Everose Gold - Diamond / Brown
Lug width: 14 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 28 mmBrown dialCase material: Everose Gold
Oyster Perpetual 28 Everose Gold / Black
Lug width: 14 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 28 mmBlack dialCase material: Everose Gold
Oyster Perpetual 28 Yellow Gold - Diamond / Turquoise
Lug width: 14 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 28 mmTurquoise dialCase material: Yellow Gold
Oyster Perpetual 28 Yellow Gold / Green
Lug width: 14 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 28 mmGreen dialCase material: Yellow Gold
Oyster Perpetual 34 Everose - Diamond / Brown
Lug width: 18 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 34 mmBrown dialCase material: Rose Gold
Oyster Perpetual 34 Everose / Blue
Lug width: 18 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 34 mmBlue dialCase material: Rose Gold
Oyster Perpetual 34 Yellow Gold - Diamond / Turquoise
Lug width: 18 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 34 mmTurquoise dialCase material: Yellow Gold
Oyster Perpetual 34 Yellow Gold / Black
Lug width: 18 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 34 mmWhite dialCase material: Yellow Gold
Oyster Perpetual 36
Lug width: 20 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 36 mmGrey dial
Oyster Perpetual 36 Stainless Steel / Turquoise Celebration (Multi Dial)
Lug width: 20 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 36 mmMulti dial
Oyster Perpetual 41
Lug width: 21 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 41 mmBlack dial
Oyster Perpetual 41 Stainless Steel - Yellow Gold / Slate
Lug width: 21 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 41 mmGrey dial
Oyster Perpetual 41 Stainless Steel / Jubilee
Lug width: 21 mm
Source: DatabaseCase size: 41 mmMulti-Color dialCase material: Stainless Steel
No reference matches.
Rolex Oyster Perpetual references use 18 mm or 19 mm or 20 mm depending on the reference and case size, so check yours in the list below. The most common is 18 mm (12 of 50 references with a known width). These widths come from our database and are not yet verified.
No. 7 different lug widths appear across the line, often by case size or generation. Check the reference engraved on the case back or between the lugs.
Monochrome lists 41mm alongside 36mm, 34mm, 31mm and 28mm models in 2020. The 41mm replaced the earlier 39mm reference 114300, so a 39mm OP is an older piece.
It ships on the Oyster bracelet, a three-piece solid-link design in Oystersteel, closed by a folding Oysterclasp.
Yes, a little. The Oysterclasp has the Easylink comfort extension, which adds about 5mm of length, for example on a warm day.
No. aBlogtoWatch notes that the OP 41 uses the easy extension clasp, without the Glidelock found on pricier Submariner models.
Some did. A 1960s gold reference 1002 sold by Phillips was on a leather strap with an 18K gold Rolex pin buckle, and a 1930s Bubbleback came on a lizard strap with a steel pin buckle.
The gap between the two lugs that hold the strap, in millimetres. A new strap must match it exactly: 20 mm lugs take a 20 mm strap.
Most watches use spring bars, so any strap of the right width fits. Many smartwatches use their own band system instead, such as Apple Watch bands or Garmin QuickFit.